New Mexico is looking at satellites and artificial intelligence to track methane emissions as soaring oil and natural gas production from the Permian Basin have brought concern in the community regarding climate change action.
The state will use a model developed by Descartes Labs to map and quantify how much of greenhouse gas is being released. The data will help oil companies manage methane emissions and help guide inspectors to potential problem areas in real-time.
This is the latest step in New Mexico by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in an effort to create a state rule on emissions of methane. The recent oil drilling boom in the Permian, which spans West Texas and New Mexico, helped spurred the conversation.